SSN is a digest of the day's soccer/football/futbol articles with a focus on the top European leagues and the United States National Team. Below, you’ll find links to articles and video, as well as additional features and commentary. We locate the top news of the day so you can stay updated with ease.

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Also in 2000 an English amateur player, Lee Todd, was sent off after two seconds when he responded to the referee’s whistle to start the game by saying “xxxx me, that was loud” and was dismissed for foul and abusive language.

An attacking midfielder and a product of Milford, Mass., Videira played his college soccer at Duke, where he was a three-time semifinalist for the Missouri Athletic Club’s Hermann Trophy (2005, 2006, 2007) and a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) third-team All-America selection in both 2006 and 2007.

Neither American was involved in the Old Firm clash on Saturday as Celtic won a close battle 1-0. Both Beasley and Edu have had a hard time earning playing time this season. Edu is getting some quality reps with the Reserves, but Beasley's time has lessened this season. Maybe 2009 will bring more opportunities for the crafty winger.

The Damned United, a film about Brian Clough's 44-day disaster at Leeds United, will be released next year. An adaptation of David Peace's brilliant novel, it's billed as the inside story of the most catastrophic managerial reign in English football history.

He is the type of player who would rather miss the bus than be seen breaking into a sprint, but, as a sense of urgency grew around Old Trafford last night, it was the languid figure of Dimitar Berbatov who ensured that Manchester United did not fall further behind schedule in their hunt for a third successive Premier League title.

That's the general consensus among American soccer fans who were faced with the disappointing news that highly regarded defender Neven Subotic of the German Bundesliga team Borussia Dortmund had chosen to play for Serbia rather than the U.S. national team. Subotic's decision ended a lengthy saga that saw him transform from Bosnian immigrant to U.S. youth national team player to European prospect to full-blown European star.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Barcelona go off for their Christmas break ten points ahead of their nearest rivals, Sevilla, after coming back from one-down in an awkward game at Villarreal. In this final column for the season, I would expect to be able to say for certain that the Catalans will take the title when summer comes, but you never know. There seem to be no really consistent rivals, no-one capable of a real challenge, but it's a funny old game. A couple of injuries to key players, a couple of bad results, but no. As Schuster said, it's surely Barcelona's year.

Clint Dempsey, Fulhamvs. Boro (90 minutes, 1 goal) Dempsey grabbed his second goal of the season on Saturday, touching up Middlesbrough in the 59th minute for the third Fulham goal of the day. The 25-year-old midfielder scored after some great build up play from Andy Johnson and Danny Murphy. Johnson threaded the ball from the left flank to Murphy, whose pass to the right side of the box found Dempsey, setting up a perfect one-on-one with the keeper which Dempsey won with a low shot into the left corner. The Cottagers moved up to eighth place in the league table and are now just 12 points behind their total from all of last season, a huge improvement no doubt.The Rest

The Bundesliga's winter break has arrived and Hoffenheim have been crowned "Autumn Champions," courtesy of a draw against nine-man Schalke 04. Mönchengladbach have been experiencing a rough season, whereas Hoffenheim are having an excellent one. Werder are going through a mixed season.

The confrontation between Manchester United players and members of Chelsea ground staff following United's 2-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge was regarded by many as just one more example of the worst of the Premier League.

"I must admit I have a dressing room curiosity over Beckham. I want to see if he is equipped as he is in the underwear adverts."AC Milan striker Marco Borriello looks forward to the arrival of Goldenballs.

Liverpool's trip to North London on Sunday to face Arsenal is the marquee match of the weekend. Elsewhere, Everton host Chelsea, West Brom welcome Manchester City, Newcastle host Spurs, Villa are at West Ham, Hull host Sunderland, Fulham welcome Boro to Craven Cottage, Pompey go to Bolton and Blackburn play Stoke.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

This tournament is totally retaaarded and worthless so I'll not be posting any links on the subject. I suppose I'd be excited if I were a Gamba Osaka fan and Manchester United came to play my team. But if I were a United fan I'd be furious that my club has to travel around the world to compete in what is simply a money-making endeavor for sponsors and organizers.

Spain struck a joyous blow for the beautiful game as they finally shone on the international stage but the misery of Chelsea captain John Terry on a rainy May night in Moscow provided soccer’s most vivid image of 2008.